DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 729
I and my friends of the panel of chairmen are prepared to sit till seven o’clock. I am entirely in the hands of the House in regard to this matter.
The Honourable Shri Satyanarayan Sinha : Sir, I said on behalf of Government, that they are prepared to allot half of Saturday for the discussion on the Hindu Code Bill. But as you have already said that the whole of the day would be allotted for this purpose, Government will agree to that.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I hope Government will accept the suggestion which I have made.
Pandit Govind Malaviya (U. P. : General): Sir, I wish to submit to you in connection with your ruling, that on the assumption that Saturday will be a free day, some of us have made important and unavoidable engagements elsewhere. Speaking about myself, I have got some unavoidable and important engagement on that day. I hope, Sir, you will keep that fact also in mind. If we had known that Saturday would be a working day we would not have done that. Now this will be upsetting all our engagements, and I, therefore, request that instead of Saturday some other day might be fixed for the discussion of this important measure. It is open to the Government to do so easily. They can take up Government work on Saturday and allot some other day for the discussion of this measure. We will have no objection to that But I hope that the House will appreciate that if others who wish to take part in this debate, are not able to come on that day, they should be given some consideration.
The Honourable Shri Satyanarayan Sinha : I think, Government will have no objection if Hon. Members wish to sit on Monday. On Saturday we shall take up other Government business.
Shri Ajit Prasad Jain (U. P. : General): Why not continue tomorrow and finish the discussion on this Bill?
The Honourable Shri Satyanarayan Sinha : On Saturday we are meeting for Transacting Government business. Government is prepared to have the discussion of this Bill put for Monday, but all the same Saturday will be an Official day.
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : Members will have less time on Monday than on Saturday, But if the members are willing to conclude the debate on Monday we won’t have any objection. But if the postponement is due to dilatory tactics. . . .
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I am really sorry, our friends are not cooperating. A suggestion came from Pandit Govind Malaviya and some